Red Bluff, California

I leave Sacramento in the morning heading north on route 5 with the intention of driving straight to Redding, California. That plan changes quickly as I exit to visit the nearby town of Woodland.  It was a good choice, it has another great small downtown.  I then decide to take routes 113 and 99 north which pass several small towns along the way that hopefully will have more local flavor, I am in no hurry !  It turns out to be another brilliant decision when I arrive at Marysville / Yuba City which have grown together and the town of Chico.

Came upon this great mural somewhere near Woodland

Downtown Woodland view

Beautiful Drug Store with interesting umbrella display

Also a beautifully restored sign

Beautiful paint job

Interesting old Hotel

Sunflower fields outside of town

The Elrey Theater in Chico

It's amazing to me how these beautiful old bands eventually
become Jamba Juice shops ? 

The Senator Theater in Chico

Old Chinese area of Marysville or Yuba City ?

Very ornate colorful mural nearby

Another interesting one, many similar buildings remained in this area

Hard to believe that Macy's started here in the Chinese area

The Tower next to the first Macy's is for sale, it's a landmark but
in need of much work and money

Mural in Marysville or Yuba City, these two cities are connected

After all this excitement I’m feeling a little tired as I pull into Red Bluff and thinking; if this place appeals to me, I will stay here tonight. One circuit around the central downtown puts that question to bed, yes.  It’s Sunday the streets are deserted with most stores closed, but I like what I am seeing.  About the only place open is the Roundup Saloon so I go inside to cool off.  It’s my kind of place, not too polished or too rough, pleasant and friendly, just right.  Red Bluff is a big rodeo town, although I haven’t seen anyone looking too cowboy.  They say it is one of the oldest (almost 100 years) and largest rodeos in the west.  There is also the Palomino Club in town, it’s sort of the rodeo center and museum, but closed.  Red Bluff is also a river town sitting the banks of the Sacramento River, the most northern point for boat navigation.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Bluff,_California

Historic Odd Fellows Hall 

The Round Up Saloon was my happy hour spot

The State Theater is fully restored, the sign lights up and flashes at night

Nice flowers along Main Street

Red Bluff Round Up museum and headquarters

Palomino Room, the popular place during the rodeo

A large Hotel once stood on this spot, It appears that
they duplicated part of it in this park space

This was a great looking business and restored sign

The Sacramento River park area

Red Bluff gets its name from the color of the rocky bluffs.
I couldn't find any red rocks, are any left ?

 According to the RV campsite app on my phone that I still use occasionally this is one of the few Walmarts to still allow RV overnight, but I only see one RV when I ride over to check.  I park in rear corner away from the bright overhead lights and no one comes a knock’n.  Someone did come by very early in the AM making considerable noise which I later determined to be a homeless type checking the trash cans for bottles.  That is something they do, I expect there is much competition, so you have to get out early before the competition.  That’s why these people are sleeping most of the day, they’re tired by the afternoon,  you gotta be out very early to get the good stuff, it’s a hard life.  

I also am seeing that many restaurants, mostly fast food places have door locks on the bathrooms.  They don’t let them in because they tend to make a mess, doing a shower in the sink or something like that.  There are so many homeless, some are poor displaced types, some are young vagabond types and some that are a little mentally off.  I am seen as a likely prospect, good for a couple of dollars which is usually true, but I do have limits.      

It is really hot, almost 100 degrees and the van interior gets even hotter.  As a result, I have been eating out more often.   My expensive ice chest is a big pain, I see why people spend the big bucks for the refrigerator and solar array to power it, when it is this hot I have to drain melt water and add a bag of ice every day.  It’s not a problem when in a town, ice id easy to get, but when out in the boonies you may have to travel several miles.  I’m beginning to think you’re just as well with a cheap Coleman ice Chest.

I could spend more time in Red Bluff, it's pretty comfortable here, but got to keep moving.     

Next stop is Redding, California

Sacramento, California

I take route 99 north towards Sacramento stopping at Lodi and Gait to explore a bit.  Parts of this road seems to be the original route of the coast to coast Lincoln Highway.  Lodi had a nice clean downtown area lined with shops and restaurants.  They have an interesting arch next to the train tracks which remains an operating rail line.  Across the tracks seems to be the bad side of town with a hobo jungle looking group hanging on the sidewalk.  Lodi is surrounded by many wineries and as you travel out of town you pass miles and vineyards.

The Lodi Arch

A shade tree lined main street

List of area wineries 

  

The Round house tavern could tell some stories

The town of Gait wasn’t of much interest except for the Lincoln Highway exhibit in downtown.

A very nice display

         

The traffic and congestion increases as you approach Sacramento and I stop to finalize where I want to go.  I decide first priority is to visit the Capital Building which is also a California Museum.  My GPS takes me to the Capital without an issue but then the hard part, finding a parking spot.  I make about three circuits around the Capital complex thinking I was going to have to widen my circle and just hike to the Capital.  As I was rounding the corner I had a lucky break, very unusual, with a car pulling out of a parking spot with no one else waiting right in front of me.  It was a legal spot, parking meter of course, but no time limit and only a few blocks from the Capital.  

I went straight to the Capital and did a free self guided tour, the museum was mostly  promotional exhibits for every California County and basic information about the Capital building construction, renovations over the years and restoration.  The Capital wasn’t actually as great as I thought it would be, I’ve been to several that are more amazing inside.  The exterior setting is really impressive with a wide open mall area in front which leads to the harbor area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Capitol

The front of the Capital 

Looking up into the rotunda

Statue of Queen Isabella agreeing to finance
the voyage of Columbus

Emblem in the floor celebrating native culture 

Floor tiles and color combination made for a very
light and colorful look 

One of the government chambers

Close up view of Capital

Detail shot of sculpture 

After leaving the capital I wandered the streets looking for interesting buildings, finding lots of great stuff, but it was so hot and humid.  Hot and humid is something I’m not accustomed to and I was wilting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento,_California

A very flag waving veterans  monument

A great thought; Bring me men to match my mountains

The Crest Theater

A impressive church building

The Masonic Temple

Detail of the Temple, there were many

A mix of murals and graffiti is common in center city Sacramento

Sacramento needs a few more people willing to take a chance

Impressive fountain in Cesar Chavez Park

Cesar Chavez statue in park 

City Library had a beautiful entrance

After getting back to the van, I drove a short distance away to the old Sacramento Harbor area, hoping it would be cooler.  It wasn’t but it had ice cream which helped.  I had no idea that the Sacramento River was so huge and that small ocean going vessels and river boats could navigate it.  The harbor area is totally geared for the tourists with much to do and see, lots of shopping, dining and river cruises.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Sacramento_State_Historic_Park

Most buildings appear to be original, not sure how they survived ?

Creaky wooden walkways add a touch of character

The Delta King is now a Hotel and restaurant

Lots of interesting shops here

On Thursday I visit the California Railroad State Park Museum located in the Sacramento harbor.  It is one of the best railroad museums in the country with many beautifully restored rare steam locomotives and passenger cars.  The Union Pacific segment of the transcontinental railroad started right here at milepost 0.00 on the harbor and then traveled 1,776 miles to Promontory Point, Utah where the rails joined with the eastern Union Pacific segment of track.  Mostly built by Chinese laborers I might add, the americans were all looking for gold.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_State_Railroad_Museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Pacific_Transportation_Company

Mile post 0.00 of the Southern Pacific

It takes dreamers to accomplish great things

History does repeat itself, I think I see  a
"Make America Great again" sign on the hat

Love this drawing

Virginia & Truckee coach was beautiful, the insert show the interior painting

So many rare restored Locomotives in this museum

Every detail is perfect

The romance of the railroad

Lots of Monster Steam Engines on display 

This was the 1st Southern Pacific Locomotive

This was the last steam locomotive 

Thomas Sefton was an amazing collector, his collection was donated
to the museum and much is on display.  The museum docent told me
there is an entire warehouse full of stuff not on display.

I took a peak at the historic LeLand Stanford Mansion from the outside, but was too late for a visit.  LeLand Stanford was a mover and shaker in California History being the president of the Southern Pacific Railroad and Governor of California.

The Mansion is now a museum and used as a California welcome center

I traveled 20 miles away to Folsom, California which is most famous for the Folsom Prison thanks to Johnny Cash.  I went to the Folsom Prison Museum located right next to the prison.  Going to the museum you walk right pass the visitors entrance with mostly unhappy looking visitors waiting to get in for visitation.  They have many interesting objects made by the prisoners inside some good, but mostly bad, like guns and knives.  Johnny Cash really made  the prison famous with his concert there and song.

You're told it is OK to take photos as long as you don't go past the rock

    

photo of Johnny Cash in concert at Folsom

The last song written by Johny Cash

Many of these people are creative  in a twisted way

Avoid people with tattoos like these

The only thing most people know about Folsom is the prison, but the city of Folsom has a beautiful downtown area.  Folsom came about during the gold rush and had one of the earliest rail line running to it.  As a result it was a boom town, but it lived on.  There was much mining activity all around Folsom, the hydraulic mining method was used extensively here and I was told that’s why you will see odd unnatural looking piles of earth in places .  The scenic and historic Rainbow Bridge crosses the American River on the edge of town.  The river has cut a gorge here and if you find the way to get down there it’s a popular spot on a hot summer day.  Crossing the bridge I could see people far below lounging on rocks in the water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folsom,_California

Nice mural, flowers were OK too

Folsom Train Depot with historic coach and museum

The Williams Carriage Hotel

John Studebaker started by building wagon wheels, He went
on to build the Studebaker automotive empire

In the evening I went to downtown Sacramento to the Torch Club which is a vibrant blues music club.  I was very surprised to arrive and find an easy parking spot across the street, that usually doesn't happen.  It’s a bit of a culture clash as the blues club is right next door to another club that has music, or some facimile, more attuned to the young crowd which I don’t understand.  The Daniel Castro Band was very good, Castro is one of those guitar players whose fingers dance on the strings, like magic to me.

Daniel Castro in action

Next stop is Red Bluff, CA